Back brace



H. HORMANN Feb. 19, 1952 BACK BRACE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 IIYE/ENTOR. HE LMU T HORMANN BY A TTORNEVS Patented Feb. 19, 1952 BACK BRACE Helmut Hermann, Heubach, Germany Application January 14, 1949, Serial No. 70,955 In Germany October 28, 1948 1 Claim. ioi. 232) The invention refers to a back brace which has the purpose to give the human body, in case of weak or injured spine, brace and support but nevertheless extensive freedom of movement. By these features the back brace distinguishes itself substantially from known abdominal supports or corset braces. The known posture supports do not offer any security against shifting the support when being worn. Although serving the purpose to force a wearer with bad posture to hold an erect posture they were not thought as means for the restoration of movability for injured persons.

The back brace according to the invention consists of an inelastic back part running from the seat to a point between the shoulder-blades and reinforced in vertical direction and of an elastic abdominal part detachably connected with the back part, which abdominal part supports the abdomen. Preferably on both sides of the back brace, the abdominal part is connected with the back part by means, by way of eXample lacings, which allows adjustment of the width of the back brace. Thus a good fit of the back brace is attained.

The back brace is provided with crossed shoulder straps adjustable for length. Starting from the sides of the back part towards the front over the corresponding shoulders. The shoulder straps cross themselves at the upper end of the back part and run underneath the arms towards the front upon the abdominal part. At the place of crossing, that is, upon the upper end of the back part, loops are provided to guide the shoulder straps. A gusset is arranged upon the abdominal part which gusset is provided with buckles for the ad justment of the shoulder straps and with loopsto secure their tips. By this arrangement of the entirely free. The shape of the back brace is upon the abdomen. I

The reinforcement of the back part is developed in such a manner that it will allow a certain degree of movability without impairing the bracing eifect. This is attained thereby that the reinforcement will be effected by two spring blades;

preferably of steel, vertically arranged in the middle of the back brace and connected along those edges which face each other by a hinge like means, This hinge like connection may be made in such a way that the spring blades are fastened by means of a cover sewed upon the back part, the longitudinal seam of which cover laying between the two spring blades and forming the hinge axis.

The subject of the invention is illustrated on the annexed drawing by way of example.

Fig. l is a front view of the back brace,

Fig. 2 is a back view of the back brace, and v Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the inner surface of the back part.

The back brace consists of a reinforced back part a of woven material or such like and of an of same.

abdominal part b which is elastic in all directions and may particularly consist of sheet rubber. The abdominal part b is connected with the back part a at both sides of the back brace by lacings c which allow an adjustment of width. The back brace may be closed by a clasp closing d or such like.

The shoulder straps 1 starting from the sides of the back part a run from the front over the shoulders cross themselves at the upper end of the back part a. and run underneath the arms towards the front upon the abdominal part b. There,iupon a gusset g, buckles h and loops 2' are provided to fasten the shoulder straps f and to secure 'the tips To prevent slipping of the shoulder straps f they run loosely through loops e upon the back part a at theplace of their crossing.

The reinforcement of the back part ai consists of two spring blades 10 arranged at the inner surface of the back part a, which blades areconnected along their facing edges by hinge like means. For this purpose the spring blades are fastened to the back part a by a cover I of soft material sewed upon it, which cover also acts as padding. The longitudinal seam m between both spring blades is forms the hinge axis. (Fig. 3.)

The back braces-is applicable for men as well a for women. In the latter case garters 'n will be provided. I

Having now described my invention I claim:

A spinal brace comprising a back portion, a front portion, reinforcing means secured to the back portion in the center thereof and extending the vertical length of the back portion to' thus extend adjacent and parallel to the spi'neof the wearer when in wearing position and consisting of a pair of spring blades arranged adjacent to each other and mounted to move hinge-like relative to each other, means to releasably secure the two portions together and to adjust the two portions relative to each other when on the body of the wearer, means secured to the front and back portions to extend over the shoulders of the wearer to maintain the brace in position on the body of the wearer, and a cover on and extending over each blade and secured to the back portion.

HELMUT HdRMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Mar, 28, 1911 France June 19, 1934 Number Number 

